Thank you for considering the LITTLE TREE NURSERY as your supplier of fruit
trees. Our apple trees are different from what is presently available in that
they are all pot grown. Every root these trees ever had is right in the pot.
They are ready to resume normal growth in your yard without any transplant shock
or setback.

LITTLE TREE NURSERY trees are much more reliable when the field conditions
are difficult. Although they are typically a little smaller than other nursery
trees that have been recently "bare rooted", they usually catch up
within a year or two. Trees which have been recently "bare rooted"
have to regrow all fine fibrous roots and root hairs. This is frequently called
the recovery period. Pot grown trees are ready to begin growth immediately.

Because LITTLE TREE NURSERY trees are smaller, they have the potential to
develop strong scaffold branching at a convenient height. They have lots of
lateral buds that are close to the ground. Many apple trees offered for sale are
imported from much milder climates. They are 6 to 8 feet tall with minimal
branching, long internodes, and few lateral buds. Such trees are very difficult
to train into well formed productive trees.

At the LITTLE TREE NURSERY, we propagate all of the described varieties on
Siberian Crab root stock and on Ottawa #3 root stock. All apple trees are
grafted. Typically the root stock is first grown from seeds or cuttings. After
this root stock plant (sometimes called the under stock) is well established, a
bud from a desirable apple tree is inserted (grafted) about 2 inches above
ground level. When this bud starts to grow, the rootstock is cut back to just
above the bud. The result is a desirable apple tree on a root of either Siberian
Crab or Ottawa #3.

Although desirable apples can be grafted onto any hardy apple seedling,
Siberian Crab has been the variety of choice for many decades. Siberian Crab is
very hardy and disease resistant. The resulting trees are the full sized apple
trees which have delighted gardeners since the prairies were first settled.
These full sized trees are hardy, drought resistant, and productive.

Ottawa #3 as a dwarfing root stock is a recent innovation. Ottawa #3 was
developed and introduced by Agriculture Canada. It has been tested by the
University of Saskatchewan since the 1960's. In 1997, it was finally put on the
recommended list by the U of S Department of Plant Science with the reservation
that hardiness may be lacking for farm sites that are not well sheltered. These
trees never exceed 6 to 7 feet in height. Pruning, thinning, and harvesting can
be done without the use of ladders. Other advantages include earlier and more
consistent fruit production and, of course, space for more trees. Because they
bear so young and so heavily, individual support is required for each tree.

At the LITTLE TREE NURSERY, we will do our best to provide the answers you
need.